Enabling flood defence on Bridge progressing to support housing delivery

Monday 02 March 2026

Work is continuing to deliver an enabling flood defence on the Bridge to support housing development, including at Leale's Yard, which will in turn support businesses on the Bridge and Guernsey's wider economy.

The risk of flooding caused by water overtopping at the Bridge seafront is a key consideration for several sites allocated for housing in the area and for homes and businesses in the immediate area. Although this risk is small, it is real. The latest climate change analysis for Guernsey and the forecast rise in sea levels indicates that the impact could be significant and needs to be addressed.

In the latest stage of this work, the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure is seeking a contractor to carry out site investigations to more precisely understand ground conditions, drainage and the layout of the Bridge under the road surface. This will inform the concept design, which will then be followed by detailed design works before construction can start.

What the flood defence will look like and exactly where it should be will be confirmed through the design work. However, much of the design will be informed by what is necessary to deliver an effective flood defence, and what is most cost-effective, but the Committee is very conscious of the visual impact on the area and the importance of maintaining good access and parking for customers to businesses in the area.

Deputy Adrian Gabriel, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, said:

"Creating an enabling flood defence is a crucial step towards delivering housing and other development near the Bridge which, as a super priority of the Government Work Plan, is essential to progress.

"With the States having purchased the majority of the Leale's Yard site last year and continuing to work towards demolition of the site and master planning for the wider Braye du Valle area, this has further emphasised the importance of providing effective protection from flooding both now and into the immediate future.

"Creating a flood defence doesn't happen overnight, requiring careful planning, including the need for these site investigations. However, it's important to see this work move to the next stage as an enabler for housing, business and the wider economy."